Two years ago Thursday, the Detroit Tigers sent Dontrelle Willis to Class A ball. Class A, even though he was just five years removed from a Rookie of the Year award and three from a 22-win season.

He will take the mound against the Atlanta Braves at Chase Field on this anniversary, hoping to take another step toward resembling the dynamic and dominating pitcher he once was.

Oh, what a story that would be.

Let's be honest. Many don't expect it. It is hard to reach the summit twice in a career, especially after a freefall that left Willis swatting major-league-sized mosquitoes in minor-league affiliate Lakeland, Fla., two years ago.

"It's been a bittersweet ride," he said. "But the truth is, I'm not a complex guy. I take things as they come and deal with them. You do your best to prepare yourself and look for the light at the end of the tunnel."

For an organization that has done a whole lot of wrong in the past year, the Diamondbacks' June 1 acquisition of Willis was a definite right.

It's the type of move a team mired in disappointment has to make. It cost the club only pitcher Billy Buckner in the deal, and the Diamondbacks will have to foot just a prorated share of the major-league minimum salary of $400,000.

If Willis tanks, well, the season wasn't going anywhere anyway.

But what if he finds some answers in a new environment?

The hunch here says he will.

"The stuff is good, the arm is in good shape," Diamondbacks pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre Jr. said. "He just needs to get himself back to who he was before and understand he's not going to be this perfect little pitch-maker."

Stottlemyre believes Willis' strength has always been his "life and movement" and not necessarily location.

He's only 28. And though his stuff isn't the nastiness that defined his Marlins career, it's still quality. It's his control that has been the issue.

We saw both sides of his pitching personality in his first start with the Diamondbacks on Saturday. He earned the win in the 4-3 victory over the Rockies but walked four and hit a batter.

He also pitched around trouble and struck out three in six shutout innings.

What did the Diamondbacks take from his effort?

"A 'W,' " manager A.J. Hinch said.

Good point.

At the very least, the Diamondbacks clubhouse will benefit from a much-needed living, breathing shot of adrenaline.

"His first day, he looked over on the bench (at the other players) and said, 'What's wrong?' " Stottlemyre said. "Here was a guy trying to get the ballclub going, he was just doing what is natural for him."

The left-hander always has been one of the game's more-charismatic players, from his unconventional pitching style - a high leg kick and exaggerated twist - to his upbeat personality to his on-field energy.

He wants to be here, and that was evident from his first conversation with General Manager Josh Byrnes.

"I make those calls all the time," Byrnes said. "He was as excited as I ever heard."

Willis loves the game, and it is evident by the way he plays. Once of the first things he did when he joined the team was to seek out Matt Williams and thank him for "all the joy he brought to me, a Bay Area kid growing up."

"The beauty of this sport is that people who don't even know you are living and dying through you," he said. "I can relate to that. I love this game. You have to respect it and appreciate it, and to this day I still love playing baseball and I still love watching it."

Fans connect with him. Even though Detroit gave him $29 million after he was traded by Florida and he gave the Tigers little in return, Detroit fans gave him a standing ovation just three months ago during spring training when he pitched two scoreless innings against the Braves.

Perseverance resounds with fans. Willis has required a lot of it.

In his third season with the Marlins, his 22 victories and 2.63 ERA were enough for second in Cy Young Award voting. With an ERA nearly double that two years later, Florida dealt him to the Tigers in December 2007, but a knee injury, anxiety issues and control problems left many writing Willis' baseball obituary.

"This guy for a long time has been the focal point of a few different teams," Hinch said. "We hope some good can happen here."

It depends on whom you believe. Some think his unique throwing motion has complicated his ability to grow as a pitcher. Others wonder whether his anxiety issues have put up an emotional barricade.

The Diamondbacks believe a change of scenery and the right support will make Willis a factor again.

"Honestly, I didn't even know about the two-year anniversary," Willis said. "I don't think of things that way.

Today: Cardinals at DiamondbacksWhen: 1:10 p.m. | Where: Chase Field (roof hotline: 602-379-ROOF). Pitchers: RHP Edwin Jackson (3-6, 5.38) vs. Cardinals RHP Chris Carpenter (7-1, 2.54). TV/radio: FSAZ/KTAR-AM (620), KSUN-AM (1400).Notes: Jackson took the loss in his most-recent start, allowing four runs and nine hits in a 7-5 setback against the Braves. In his past five starts, he is 2-1 with a 2.87 ERA and a .197 opponents batting average with 13 walks and 39 strikeouts. He was an All-Star last season with Detroit, posting career highs in starts (33), ERA (3.62), innings pitched (214) and strikeouts (161). . . . Carpenter pitched seven scoreless innings Monday against the Dodgers but got a no-decision as the Cardinals were shut out in Los Angeles. He also had a no-decision the most-recent time he faced Arizona, allowing three runs and striking out 10 in seven innings April 21. He is 4-0 with a 2.09 ERA in nine career appearances (eight starts) against the Diamondbacks.